Category: IFS

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The D52 Caliper brackets are almost ready!

This has been a long time coming, but I have my proofs! Just a few small edits to go and production will start.

proper caliper brackets for the Dodge Dakota/D150 based front suspensions I have been using for some time.

This will convert a 87-96 Dakota to use the full-sized #D150 brake rotor on the Dakota spindle and allow use of the Wilwood D52 two piston caliper as an upgrade and bolt pattern change to the 5 on 5 1/2″ bolt pattern. This will also allow the use of the Wilwood D52 caliper the following models.

DODGE B150 1985-1994
DODGE B1500 1995-1997
DODGE B250 1985-1994
DODGE B2500 1995-1997
DODGE D100 PICKUP 1986-1989
DODGE D150 PICKUP 1985-1993
DODGE RAMCHARGER 1985-1996
DODGE B150 1994
DODGE B1500 1995-1998
DODGE B250 1994
DODGE B2500 1995-1997
DODGE RAM 1500 VAN 1999-2002

These will be available very soon, still setting up my “store” to pick up a pair yourself.

And getting underway is alloy hubs and big rotor options along with other caliper options. Working on a full brake ecosystem for these trucks and vans.

 

 

Pricing will be $250 a pair with hardware and instructions. Shipping through USPS Flat Rate is my first option. Also considering an Amazon store for added convenience. And once underway, I am starting my new aluminum hubs and a “big rotor” options.

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Next video up, Rust removal click bait!

And some metal shaping too!

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GM To Dodge spindle caliper bracket

Fully supported caliper and machined mounting surfaces for accuracy and squareness to the spindle . Likely cast steel, then machined.

Thinking this is the design I want to go with. Making a few edits for production and printing a model. Filming the progress as I go here when it comes time to do some test fitting.

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Dodge Brake upgrades

Things are still moving around behind the scenes, just moving slow. I was hoping we would have things in production by now. Things are in place but family matters have been getting in the way for all involved.

But you Dodge guys!!

Brake kits, you want them, so I have an idea on how to improve the front brakes.

I have in the past done custom machine work to adapt bigger and better brakes to the Dakota/D150 spindle. But it’s expensive to pull off. Now that CNC machining has become so prevalent I have found a local partner that can make some of my ideas into reality.

If you are interested, please drop me a line at steve@industrialchassisinc.com and Let me know your thoughts.

I am going through the list of applications for cross-compatibility. Looks like the vans will also be in this list of compatible spindles. So long as your vehicle uses the A16 outer and A18 inner wheel bearing, these components will likely fit. The later vehicles have an ABS Tone Ring inside the hub. That will have to be dealt with also for those want to retain the ABS functionality.

DODGE DAKOTA 1987-1990
DODGE DAKOTA 1991-1996
DODGE B150 1985-1994
DODGE B1500 1995-1997
DODGE B250 1985-1994
DODGE B2500 1995-1997
DODGE D100 PICKUP 1986-1989
DODGE D150 PICKUP 1985-1993
DODGE RAMCHARGER 1985-1996
DODGE B1500 1998
DODGE RAM 1500 VAN 1999-2002

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Stagnation: The condition of being stagnant; the cessation of flow

I need to post an update about the state of the product lines.

The arrangement with my employer has been difficult when it comes to production, pricing and shipments. I am exploring my options because you guys have been wanting more product that the current situation cannot fulfil.

I have been in contact with a few interested parties in a licensing agreement to produce the kits and parts again.

If you are in need of parts, please contact me at steve@industrialchassisinc.com

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Do work son!

Yeah, things are progressing. The move is moving forward. It’s looking like about six weeks or so of this posting that we will be back.

The web-store will be back when we are able to produce. There may be a delay in between when you order and when we ship, but no more than a week as we sort the production and shipping in the new location.

This has been one of the wildest journeys so far. The potential here is going to be next level for the entire team.

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Issue found with Heidt’s Mustang II stock spindles

We had a customer complain about one of our Studebaker clips not capable of an alignment recently. With all the shims removed from the adjusting plate, there was still negative camber.

I had to investigate further, and on a chassis we are supplying right now we had the same issue come up. This is brand new for us, so I needed to investigate. This is what I came up with. The upper ball joint bore is moved outboard about 1/2″.

This is causing a few problems, First off is the Camber issue. Second is going to be an issue of scrub radius. This may not cause any driveability issues, but you may notice a bit more wheel kickback on uneven road surfaces.

Short solution is to use a longer control arm, in some cases where the stock slot and T-bolt are used, you may not have much of an alignment issue.

EDIT:

I spoke with a representative from Heidt’s this afternoon. Of course this issue has never come up with them. He informed me they use a 1/4″ longer control arm at 8″ from pivot to ball joint. No reason given as to why. I want to caution everyone that if you are to mix-match parts, you may end up with a front end that you can’t align.

We have used the Heidt’s and CPP dropped spindles without this problem. I have used the stock height spindles from SPC and Kaiser without issue.

 

I want to go further with you as to what these changes will make to the way your front end will drive and handle in a future date. Right now I just needed to get this information out there.

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New feature coming soon

 

One of the reasons for doing the redesign is for you the customer to navigate and find products easier.

The other is to add in a new forum that will go live in the next few days (I hope) where you and I can engage in a more technical sense.  I get asked to help people sort their suspension issues on all sorts of vehicles.

I am working to put together a searchable forum where we can get in-depth with the true geometry of what makes your IFS work and why. This will  be a subscription service, Sorry folks but more and more of my time is being taken up by answering questions. For those of you who are customers, you will get access to the forums, but for those of you on the fence, the fee will be minimal. In that forthcoming forum, we can get in-depth to get your ride working the way you want it to.

 

Eventually, I would like to expand the forum to be an offsite, 3rd party tech line for any aftermarket hot rod parts manufacturer. If you would like to participate in some way, PDF files of instruction sheets of kits you have installed would be helpful in growing to that goal.

As always, I appreciate some input.

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Ball Joint talk

What I wanted to discuss is regarding the screw in MOPAR style ball joint that is very popular with the tubular control arms for the venerable Mustang II suspension.

These two ball joints are very different in how they are supposed to be used

The ball joint pictured at the right is the commonly used K772 MOPAR screw in ball joint used on tubular control arms throughout the industry. If you look up that number you will see it is meant for MOPAR Upper Mid-Sized cars. It is not intended for use as a lower ball joint where it will see tension loads.

The ball joint on the Left is a K719. It has the same threaded body of the K772 but if you notice one very different difference in that body, it encloses much more of the ball stud. This is a true lower ball joint meant for the Mid-Size and larger passenger cars. While it will directly replace your K772 ball joint in the control arm, the stem is larger. This larger stem requires you to machine your spindle to accept it.

While many thousands of cars and trucks are on the road using the K772 as a lower ball joint without failure, we have seen a few. Granted, this is a very robust ball joint, and if you are using a quality joint like the MOOG Problem Solver line, you may never experience a failure. We have, on the other-hand, solved some driveability issues associated with the Mustang II suspension, mainly the nervousness out on the highway but replacing the ball joints with a true lower ball joint. Now don’t take this as the end all-cure all solution to your Mustang II suspension, it’s just something we have experienced. Because the K772 is not meant to be loaded in tension, it can be “sticky” and not let your steering wheel return to center properly.

All of our Mustang II based control arms feature the K719 on the lower, and we machine the spindles to fit. If this seems like an upgrade you would like to make, give us a call and we can take care of you.

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More new product in the store

Recently added are dropped spindles, engine mounts and a few other goodies.

Like this, a bolt-in transmission crossmember for stock Model A frames. Allows you to use ’35 up style transmission mounts and a 48-52 Ford F1 brake and clutch pedal set.